OK, folks-this is the general forum now for questions that don't seem to fit in any of the other threads. I'm going to sort some of the earlier posts into the appropriate forums, but it might take a while, so bear with me. I'll delete the ones that have already been reposted by their authors.

[141] Ignore Nargil, Andra's bedroom would be pink because Nimrien painted it pink and he never bothered to redecorate, she recons he painted it yellow.

I am also wondering what shade of grey Rahur is, Nargil says he would have been iron grey but has probably gone white by now but I think he is more flea bitten, it suits his temper.

Wow you guys! And here I thought that I was being strangely obsessive with a stranger's kindly shared piece of fanfiction...

I agree with dpetrash, btw, about Elrohir's hijacking Heth's story to good purpose. As I read the story, the relationship between the two of them (E & H, that is) seems increasingly multi-layered and meaningful, so even if they don't end up together, it was clearly meant to happen.

Sorry for off-topic remark, but dpetrash might I enquire as to the origins of the name you post with?

[142] Wow you guys! And here I thought that I was being strangely obsessive with a stranger's kindly shared piece of fanfiction...

Um, more like that I have a photographic memory, Star is a genious and we where discuing what colour she should decorate her bedroom, then how other people had thier rooms done and Andra's name came up. But now you mention it it does sound a bit obsesive.

[143] Rebecca wrote: [T]he relationship between the two of them (E & H, that is) seems increasingly multi-layered and meaningful, so even if they don't end up together, it was clearly meant to happen.

Yes, I think so, too, and Heth has truly helped Elrohir along a great deal as well. They are both going to miss each other's friendship and support terribly when they part. (And see, here is an example of knowing exactly what is going to happen - Heth will go to Dol Amroth - but I am eagerly awaiting updates because I just can't predict HOW it will all fall out!)

As for my name, it's just my first initial and my married name. My husband's family immigrated from Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic) in the late 1800's. The spelling has been Americanized somewhat, but the root word, “petra,” means “rock.” Or was that way more than you wanted to know? ;) Isabeau picked it up off of my email address and I've just kept using it for consistency. You can email me about it if you wanted to know something different - I think my address is still in a previous post. Why do you ask?

[144] Imhiriel wrote: The way you describe it, it sounds as if Imrahil brought all his knights to MT. That doesn't seem plausible to me: Wouldn't he have left at least a force, say 1 or 2 companies, behind to guard Dol Amroth and the Falas?

Denethor makes Imrahil promise to bring all of his mounted troops in Discovery. The 500 number I derived from Fonstad's estimation. He also brought 1200 foot. I'm assuming he left at least that many foot in Dol Amroth, perhaps as many as 2000, and he does have his navy to help patrol.

I have been writing a piece about Imrahil at the Siege of Gondor for a long time. It's one of those things that lurk on the hard-drive forever and get tinkered with every now and again till the muse finally breaks through. But as a goodie for all of you, I give you the following snippet. Imrahil is getting ready to ride into MT with the Captains of the Outlands:

“Hail, Forlong! How’s the feasting in Lossarnach these days?”

“Passable, my lord Prince, passable!”

“So I see!” Forlong had certainly not wasted away since our last meeting.

Another booming laugh from the old, fat man. “I see you brought some friends with you!”

Forlong cast his eye back along the road, to where the Captains of the Outlands rested their troops along the verge, so as not to block the refugees, who looked at them with wide eyes. I was glad to see the women and children leaving, but was unable to drive from my mind the adage about rats and a sinking ship. And since during my sea-going youth, I’d seen sinking ships and their attendant rats more than once, it was even more difficult. “They did not bring enough to satisfy old Steward Stone-face, you know,” the Lord of Lossarnach said.

“They brought all that they felt could be spared, and what they had promised in Council. There’s rumor of a Corsair fleet off the coast. You did not bring all that many yourself, Forlong.”

“Ah well, there’s places other than Tirith that will be attacked. As lord, I have to have a care for my people as well as the White City.”

“As do I,” I acknowledged, and he looked down the road at the ranks of my assembled Swan Knights and men-at-arms and whistled.

“So you say, but it looks as if you stripped Dol Amroth, Imrahil!”

“Oh, I left a few behind.” More than a few, in point of fact, for the Corsairs threatened my demesne greatly. Forlong’s shrewd old eyes widened as he did the math, adding the number of men I had brought to the number he estimated I would consider sufficient to keep Dol Amroth safe.

“I had no idea you had so many men under arms! You command as many as the Steward does.”

“I doubt that, Lossarnach.” I didn’t really, but I did not want to enter into that sort of speculation--it led to nothing but trouble, and rumors of empire-building. “So--in what order should we enter the city?” Forlong laughed.

“Age before beauty, so I should precede you and Hirluin. And you have all those horses! For the sake of our shoes, you should go last.”

I laughed in my turn, agreed to take the rear-ward position, and started back to my men, passing the men of Pinnath Gelin upon the way.

BTW, I love the names Esteven and Liahan. I know how hard it is to come up with good names for OCs, and I like yours most of the time, but those two especially.

I'm very glad you like those two because I was worried they didn't sound Tolkienish enough, but I also didn't want to change them now that I've become used to them.

[145] Rebecca wrote: hey, now that the italics are working properly again, can I suggest for the sake of ease of reading that, overall at least, we leave boldface to Isabeau's posts & replies? Makes it easy for me to follow along, although perhaps that's just me. Just a suggestion!

I sort of fell into doing it this way, and it works for me, so if no one objects, shall we just continue it?

[146] Nargil wrote: A totaly random question but what colour is the paint in Andra's bedroom, my friend is telling me it is pink, I always thought cream or yellow?

Pink? Why would she think Andra had a pink bedroom? I must admit that, little though he cares as a rule for making decorating decisions, I don't think he could live with a pink bedroom. He'd either just have the house painted white throughout, or see if Imrahil had a better idea.

[148] dpetrash wrote: Actually, my impression is that it worked out rather well in many ways. I'm not sure Heth would have been ready to attempt romance (outside of Faramir) for years and years more yet, if not for Elrohir. Additionally, in the same way that her Dol Amroth training would prepare her to be on more of an equal footing with Imrahil socially, her involvement with Elrohir helps her meet Imrahil more equally as a lover, too.

A good point, and definitely the truth, though I think poor Elrohir may be the biter bit at this point.

Not that Elrohir being Heth's lover doesn't grate on him, but if he wanted a pristine little court maiden he had almost two decades to pick one out of the pack. But oh, my biases are showing again...

Oh, he definitely could have picked such a girl two dozen times over. Still could, I guess, given that what Elrohir said back in Captain about wealth and power getting youth and beauty is certainly true.

Plus, Elrohir's penchant for stirring up trouble is just too entertaining to have it relegated to the sidelines.

Thus speaks the person who doesn't have to write the wretched fellow. Though Imrahil can be just as bad. He did the same thing to me in chapter 48 of CMC that Elrohir did in chapter 30-held the story hostage until I let him kiss Hethlin. And he was only marginally more polite about it.

[149] Isabeau wrote: Imrahil ... held the story hostage until I let him kiss Hethlin. And he was only marginally more polite about it.

LOL! I would have never guessed him capable of being other than the perfect gentleman. But then, frustration can bring out the worst in anyone. And he undoubtedly has a closer relationship with you and your muse than with the rest of us - intimates always see the bad sides of each other.

Thanks very much for the snippet! Please feel free to drop those on us anytime.

[150] Isabeau wrote: I think poor Elrohir may be the biter bit at this point.

You've written enough hints that I think the same. I do feel bad for him, bound by his oaths to not actively pursue Hethlin, but console myself with the thought that Valinor heals all ills (assuming he goes there). Plus, he is almost 3000 years old. Shouldn't he know better by now? Then again, I suppose it's possible that he's not known another female Dunadan with the connection to the Eagles, which enables the level of mental intimacy that he and Heth share. Poor Elrohir! I really do like him.